Mares Would Like To Face Santa Cruz, Valdez, Frampton in 2018

By Miguel Rivera

Three-time world champion Abner Mares appeared on ESPN's A los Golpes in Mexico City and said he expected a rematch against WBA featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz to take place on a date in the month of April or March.

Accompanied by Olympic medalist Misael Rodríguez, Mares explained that in 2018 he would love nothing more than to fight Leo Santa Cruz, Carl Frampton and Oscar Valdez, because he wants to show that among all the talent at 126 pounds, he is the most versatile and complete.

"I wanted to do two fights in 2017 but it was not possible, my aim is to do three in 2018," said Mares. "This year I am going to show that I deserve to be a world champion and in this division that is full of talent, I feel that I am among the best, unfortunately I haven't fought enough."

Mares pointed to Gary Russell, the champion of the WBC, who the Mexican boxer feels is dangerous but has fought very little over the years, and then offered words of praise for Valdez, whom he did not rule out as one of his next opponents. Valdez will collide with former champion Scott Quigg in March.

''(Oscar) is growing fight after fight, in the last one they went down but he knew how to get up and changed the style and type of fight. I liked that change and he's going to improve, he's the future of boxing,'' said Mares, who confessed that a few weeks ago he and Valdez had the opportunity to talk about a possible fight.

Remembering the defeat to Santa Cruz in 2015 and the possibility of a rematch, he commented:

"That night I had the desire to put on a show, I fought the wrong fight, and that gave him the advantage. Leo is good, I respect him as a fighter. He wins through volume. Mentally I wanted to rip his head off, I wanted to beat him. It was exciting, and it was one of the best of the year and it fills me with joy to know that the opportunity has come for me to be able to retaliate."

Finally, he said he is definitely interested in a fight with Frampton, who is going to fight Nonito Donaire in March.

"With Frampton I would box him a little more, he's short, even more so than me, he's strong, I think I can easily counterattack Frampton, he's a fighter who extends a lot and I would take advantage of that. I would box him," Mares explained.

this is a talented division but the best needs to fight the best..word to Leo santa cruz and gary russell,abner mares and the other guys in the top 10..get it on..atleast valdez is fighting quigg now..things are moving. what's up…

The only fight I'm interested in seeing Mares in is vs Donaire. He'll lose to Santa Cruz again and isn't on the level of any of the top featherweights but a fight with Donaire would at least be interesting because…